The government meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon at the Grand Serail. Photo from the Cabinet's Presidency X account
The caretaker Lebanese government, led by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, convened as planned on Tuesday afternoon at the Grand Serail. The agenda included at least 35 items, with the possibility of additional topics being raised.
The discussion covered several key issues, including the influx of an estimated 85,000 Syrians into Lebanon following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime last Sunday, according to caretaker Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar.
Other topics included the fate of Lebanese nationals missing or detained in Syria, as well as the launch of the first phase of reconstruction efforts.
These points were discussed at a press briefing attended by caretaker Information Minister Ziad Makary and caretaker Public Works Minister Ali Hamieh.
Later that evening, in one of the first minutes released by the Cabinet, the government approved the draft national strategy for the integrated management of household waste.
The plan, presented by the Environment Ministry, was accompanied by an environmental, social and strategic impact study.
During the meeting, Mikati reiterated that his government remained committed to addressing the issue of the missing and detained in Syria and would continue to make every effort and provide all necessary assistance to resolve this humanitarian and national crisis, as reported by Makary.
Mikati also highlighted a meeting he held on Monday with caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi and Justice Minister Henri Khoury. The three are working closely with Syrian authorities to determine the fate of the missing and confirm their inclusion on Syria's prisoner lists.
Additionally, he emphasized that he had ordered the immediate deployment of a team to inspect Lebanese prisons, pending Parliament's decision on a potential amnesty law.
This initiative aims to tackle the ongoing issue of prison overcrowding, while Islamist groups in Lebanon are intensifying calls for a general amnesty. These calls have gained momentum, particularly following the fall of the Assad regime and the rise of the rebel coalition led by the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
It is estimated that around 725 Lebanese are currently detained in Syria, according to a commission recently established by Lebanese authorities to address the issue.
“The data on Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons is concerning, and two committees are working diligently on this matter,” said Makary during the meeting.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of a free, 4-digit hotline, which will allow direct contact to the National Commission for the Missing’s operations room.
Damage survey and clearing
Another key decision by the Cabinet was the approval of the damage assessment process and the clearing of debris in areas affected by Israeli bombardments before the cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah.
In addition to the 4,000 people killed since Oct. 8, 2023, when the initially localized clashes between the two sides began, the damage is estimated to be in the billions of dollars.
The Cabinet had to decide whether to initiate the assessment and clearing process through private treaty or by tender. The latter option was selected “after coordination with the relevant authorities and approval by the Public Procurement Authority.”
The specifications are expected to be available by Wednesday and will be published on the Authority's website.
Hamieh reported that funds had been transferred to the Southern Council (LL 900 billion, or $10 million), the Union of Municipalities of the Southern Suburbs of Beirut (LL 900 billion), and the High Relief Committee (LL 500 billion, or $5.6 million) to enable them to initiate the tenders.
“Within this framework, we reaffirm our commitment to complying with environmental directives and standards. The Environment Ministry has provided us with a list of quarries and extraction sites located on public and private property, based on a census conducted by the army some time ago. As a result, some quarries have been closed, but they still need to be rehabilitated,” said Hamieh. He also mentioned that a project to expand the Costa Brava landfill had been approved to accommodate the debris.
Israeli violations
Hamieh stated that the government had instructed the Emergency Committee, formed to address the developments in the war, “to broaden its scope to support displaced people from Syria.” He also added that the Energy and Water Ministry “will provide fuel oil to the shelters to meet their needs.”
According to MTV, Syrian representatives from an HTS-led coalition overseeing the Jdeidet Yabous crossing met with General Security officers at the Masnaa border crossing in Lebanon on Tuesday.
The purpose of the meeting was to establish the procedures to be implemented within a week to organize the border crossing.
Makary condemned the “unacceptable Israeli violations” of the cease-fire agreement and announced that the monitoring committee would meet today, Wednesday, in Naqoura (Sour district) to address the issue.
On Tuesday, Israeli fire targeted Naqoura and the area around Helta, in the Hasbaya district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
“The government session held in Sour, shortly after the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on Nov. 27, had a positive impact both locally and internationally. It reinforced confidence in the measures taken by the army, particularly its gradual deployment and the Israeli withdrawal, albeit slow, from Lebanese territory,” declared Makary, echoing Mikati's remarks at the opening of the Cabinet session.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Greece's commitment to increasing its aid to the Lebanese Army, extending beyond the pledges made at the conference in support of Lebanon held in Paris last October. This support was reaffirmed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his visit to Beirut on Monday.
The information minister also expressed hope that the parliamentary session scheduled for Jan. 9 to elect a President of the Republic, following more than two years of vacuum at the head of state, “will take place under favorable conditions.”
He further wished “success and luck to the Syrian people in serving the common interests between Lebanon and Syria.”
Neither Hamieh nor Makary provided a detailed account of the other decisions taken during the Cabinet session.
Among the items on the agenda were the extension of the agreement for the supply of Iraqi fuel oil to Électricité du Liban, and the approval of decrees related to the organization of the Public Procurement Authority.
